Sinkhole 'stabilized,' 1 lane of US 17-92 opens in DeBary

Wednesday

After weeks of traffic delays and snarls after a sinkhole closed both lanes of U.S. 17-92 northbound through DeBary, one lane opened northbound on Wednesday.

"Traffic is again able to use northbound 17-92 through the City of DeBary," the Florida Department of Transportation announced Wednesday afternoon. The left northbound lane opened at 1 p.m.

READ MORE: Sinkhole opens in DeBary

In even better news for beleaguered DeBary residents, DOT announced all northbound lanes may reopen Friday.

"For the time being, the right northbound lane remains closed as the contractor wraps up emergency repair work at the site of a sinkhole that’s been filled in and stabilized," the department stated in its news release.

The sinkhole opened Aug. 23 when a depression appeared in the right northbound lane. The busy highway, which sees about 29,000 cars a day on all four lanes on a normal day, was closed so temporary repairs could be made.

At least twice since the highway was detoured over to Highbanks and Enterprise roads, accidents have closed one or more lanes of Interstate 4, making the traffic situation in DeBary even more complicated.

But, later that weekend, the dirt dumped in the hole collapsed as the hole grew larger and deeper. The department signed an emergency contract with P & S Paving of New Smyrna Beach on Aug. 27 to fill the hole with a fluid concrete mixture and create a stable base underground and repave the road. Work also included repair to the underground utilities and rebuilding the sidewalk.

In total, a subcontractor brought in 350 cubic yards of grout — about 35 fully loaded concrete mixer trucks — to shore up the roadbed.

"If all the work is complete by this Friday, the project will wrap up two days early," the department stated in the news release.

READ MORE: Sinkhole growing at Gemini Springs

Earlier in the year, a sinkhole opened at Gemini Springs in DeBary, and two other depressions have been reported in DeBary since the first of the year. Scientists say sinkholes tend to form in times of drought and in times of heavy rain, when the limestone caverns underground collapse.

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